Loaded handgun seized from man in Southport diner

Updated 9:10 am, Saturday, March 30, 2013

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A loaded handgun was seized from Rahul Taylor, 29, of Westport at the Athena Diner early Friday when he was charged with threatening, carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs and several other criminal offense4s. FAIRFIELD CITIZEN, CT 3/29/13 less

A loaded handgun was seized from Rahul Taylor, 29, of Westport at the Athena Diner early Friday when he was charged with threatening, carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs and several other ... more

Photo: Fairfield Police Department

Loaded handgun seized from man in Southport diner

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A Westport man, who police said had been drinking, was arrested at a Southport diner early Friday after he displayed a loaded handgun -- the second local incident involving a man with a loaded gun at an eatery in less than a week.

Rahul Taylor, 29, was charged with three counts of first-degree threatening, reckless endangerment, breach of peace and carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Police were called to the Athena Diner on the Post Road in the Southport section of town around 1:45 a.m. Friday, where they said they found Taylor and a friend sitting in a booth. Asked if he had a gun, Taylor denied that he did, according to the report. When asked a second time, Taylor again said no, police said. Officers then asked Taylor to get up from his seat, and as he arose, he reached to the right side of his body and officers saw that he had a handgun in his waistband, according to the report.

Witnesses told police that Taylor and his friend had been arguing earlier when Taylor placed the gun on the table, causing other diner patrons to fear for their safety.

Taylor has a valid pistol permit, police said, which was seized for the state's Firearms Review Board. Issued a $50,000 bond, Taylor is scheduled to appear April 9 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

Police said their investigation revealed Taylor owns two shotguns, which Fairfield police detectives said they intend to take from him as well.

Earlier in the week, police seized a loaded handgun from 55-year-old Geoffrey Weglarz of Fairfield Woods Road after they said he created a disturbance at McDonald's on Black Rock Turnpike because he was angered over his order.